Plugging in Canada’s EV Ecosystem

It is time to get serious about taking steps to support the Canadian auto sector. Although Canada is facing a skilled labour shortage driven in part by demographic factors and the global pandemic, the electrification of the transportation sector brings a tremendous opportunity to cut Canada’s greenhouse gases and position the country as a leader in the adoption of innovative technologies. To address the broad skilled labour shortage that threatens to impact the transition to the electrification of the transportation system, Canada can incorporate learnings from other countries facing similar issues. In the short term, Canada should encourage older workers to prolong their participation in the labour force; expand employment insurance benefits for new apprentices; and reskill existing workers to equip them for the technological changes taking place in the electric-vehicle ecosystem. In the medium term, Canada should improve its credential recognition approach for immigrants who are already qualified for many occupations. In the long term, Canada should build up the country’s next-generation workforce through academic, educational, and vocational training programs that meet the needs of employers without requiring additional on-the-job training due to underqualification.